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Marijuana Tourism May Soon Be A Dream Realized For Many Americans Who ‘Smoked The Vote’

The words “marijuana tourism” as applied to the United States may feel still like a fantasy, but with the surprise legalization of recreational marijuana (no trick knee needed, as Bill Maher pointed out last night on his show) on Election Day, this may just become a thing.

Marijuana tourism is up against some big foes — we’re looking at you, Feds. But the votes gleaned for marijuana in Washington and Colorado have also spoken somewhat as a mandate for We The People. And it seems after all this recession, war and chronic unemployment, We The People just want to roll up a fatty, listen to some tunes and blaze.

But the issue of marijuana tourism also highlights another aspect of the pro-pot movement, one we seem to never progress that far in discussing: the revenue potential of legal marijuana sales and the the boon that awaits the brave states to adopt marijuana legalization for recreational reasons as the country slowly admits out loud that dope is not a dangerous substance and is, in fact, far less harmful than its legal sister drug, alcohol.

It was the morning after the election that marijuana tourism got its first big nod in the form of an article in the Aspen Times titled “Aspendam?” The piece examined what the newly minted legalization meant for tourism in the tourist-friendly state, and opened with a seemingly positive bit of insight from law enforcement in the way of comment from Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo, who said:

“For me, it’s going to be live and let live. If people want to come to Colorado because pot is legal — and that’s the sole reason — it’s up to them … I am not the lifestyle police.”

DiSalvo adds:

“I work for the residents and visitors of Pitkin County, and I read that vote — 75 percent — to mean that the vast majority of the people I work for want legalized marijuana … I swore to uphold the laws of Pitkin County and the state of Colorado, and Colorado has spoken, so this department will respect their decision.”

Alas, with a vote just five days old and the specter of Feds looming, the future of marijuana tourism is still up in the air — but with ski resorts reportedly seriously considering the possibilities and an electorate no longer afraid of ridicule when it comes to asking, it also seems that the prospect is more a near-future one than a pipe dream.